CH 19

An unexpected monster attack threw the capital into great confusion and shock. The capital, surrounded by a deep moat and a solid outer wall, was all the more so because it had never allowed any invasion.

Fortunately, Marquis Ajas and Duke Khalid acted quickly, and all the monsters were subdued in one night. However, a number of buildings collapsed and many people were injured, which is not a small number to say ‘just one night’.

To appease the anxious public sentiment, the emperor immediately dispatched knights to set up a temporary shelter and treatment center in the capital square so that those who lost their homes or were injured could rest there.

Then, an emergency meeting was held with a convocation order to the nobles belonging to the aristocratic house currently staying in the capital.

The first emergency that has not been held since the current emperor ascended the throne.

Bang!

“What the hell is going on here?! How dare a monster invade the capital. What the hell was the Guard doing?”

In response to the emperor’s anger, the guard, who had not dared to sit down at the long table, got down on one knee and replied.

“I beg your pardon, Your Majesty, none of the guards guarding the outer castle at the time saw the monster.”

“Then? Did those monsters rise from the ground, or did they fly from the sky?”

“That is…I apologize.”

What could he say to the emperor who was resting at home when the guards who were out of the castle at the time didn’t see anything?

Looking down at him, who begged him to be killed because he had not fulfilled his responsibilities, the emperor clicked his tongue in disapproval. Soon, his gaze turned to the other side of the table.

“Duke Khalid. You subdued the monster.”

“I didn’t do it alone. If it had not been for the help of Marquis Ajas, the damage would have been worse than now.”

Duke Khalid turned to Leonhard, who was sitting across from him.

Normally, other nobles would have been happy with the humility of a high-ranking nobleman, but the emperor secretly clicked his tongue because he was the Marquis of Ajas.

‘Doesn’t he know that Leonhard and I subdued monsters together? which he deliberately did not mention.’

“Okay. You did a good job too, Marquis Ajas.”

“hmm.”

Seeing that he is so half-hearted, something must have happened between the two.  The emperor is being petty, not once or twice, but there are more important things to do now.

Duke Daphnen, who blew the atmosphere with a light clearing of his throat, quickly returned to the main topic.

“Marquis Ajas. I heard that among the monsters that attacked the capital this time, high-level monsters were mixed in.”

Leonhard nodded slightly at the question.

“It’s a monster with enough cleverness to evaluate our strength and run away if it feels like it’s at a disadvantage, so there’s no way the monster could have crossed the moat and walls of a castle this big alone.”

“In other words, someone intentionally caught it and released it to the capital?”

Leonhard nodded at those words, and Duke Kereis, who had been listening quietly, struck the table with his fist.

“Is there anyone who wouldn’t mind chewing on something like this?! Your Majesty, give me the right to investigate. I will catch the wicked who dare to fearlessly threaten the peace of the capital and put them to the guillotine!”

“You?”

“That is not to be said. Monsters invaded the capital, not anywhere else, but also avoiding the eyes of the guards. It is right for Your Majesty to direct the investigation himself to punish and rule discipline.”

“Uh huh, are you saying that now? The New Year’s Festival will be held soon.  Since His Majesty has so many duties, how can we aggravate His Majesty’s burden here?”

“Is New Year’s Day important now? As it is said, it is a situation where monsters have penetrated the capital’s guards. Your Majesty, in my opinion, I think it is best to entrust the investigative to Marquis ajas who has a good knowledge of monsters, as we do not know when there will be another second attack.”

“However, the Marquis of Ajas has the great responsibility of defending the borders.…”

“Which do you think is more urgent, an invasion of the border or an invasion of the capital?”

“Furthermore, if Marquis Ajas is in charge of the investigation, wouldn’t it have the effect of dispelling the anxiety spreading among the people?”

“What did you say now? Do you mean that the knights of the Duke of Kereis are unreliable?”

“I don’t mean that…!”

“Stop, stop! Is this a marketplace?  Your voices are so loud that my head is throbbing.”

The emperor, frowning, leaned back in his chair and scanned the crowd.

Many nobles lowered their heads to avoid his angry gaze. Among them, it was Marquis Calvin who deliberately raised his head high and met the emperor’s eyes.

“Your majesty. May I tell you something?”

The emperor’s eyebrows naturally loosened at his sweet voice. He nodded his head coolly, not hearing the sound of someone clicking his tongue. “Tell me.”

“The capital is nothing more than the place where His Majesty settled.  Even a five-year-old child would not know that the most important thing in order to keep the name Estroa alive is to be the first, the second, and the third. If your body is burdened while taking care of the heavy work, that is what the wicked want.”

“Hmm. Well, that is true.”

The emperor put on a satisfied expression as if the itch had been scratched. He added a word as if the Marquis of Calvin was driving a wedge into it.

“I think it would be better to entrust the investigative authority to either the Duke of Kereis or the Marquis Ajas. Whichever of the two is in charge of the investigation will surely bring satisfactory results. Right?”

His soft eye smile made some nobles redden helplessly. But Leonhard, who received the smile of his eyes, only dropped his eyes to the table without much emotion.

Whether or not Duke Kereis beside The emperor knocked on His chest asking the emperor to trust him.

“Then this matter will be decided by a vote. Hey.”

Following the emperor’s order, dozens of attendants laid down cards one by one in front of the seated nobles. A card with a white front and black back.

“If you recommend the Duke of Kereis as the person in charge of the investigative power, choose white, and if you recommend the Marquis of Ajas, choose black.”

After finishing his words, the emperor turned the card over so that white was visible. Usually, in such a public vote, the emperor is the last to turn over a card.

Sometimes, when the emperor doesn’t like the way the board turns, he turns over the cards in the middle to reveal His intentions implicitly, but it was really rare to turn over the cards as soon as voting started.

‘The Marquis of Ajas seemed to hate the emperor.’

The nobles thought so and followed the emperor, turning the cards over to white.

Meanwhile, Duke Khalid and Duke Daphnen turned the cards black, but wasn’t it after the emperor had already turned the cards?

With an overwhelming vote that made it unnecessary to count the number of cards, the investigation authority for the monster invasion was entrusted to the Duke of Kereis.

* * *

“If this is the case, I don’t know why they even issued an order to hold an emergency meeting.”

“You could have made the decision in the bedroom.”

Despite the words that seemed to be listened to, Marquis Calvin only shed his signature soft eye smile. Soon, he left the conference room, having a chat with Duke Kereis, who burst out with a hearty laugh.

Duke Daphnen, who was watching his frustrated face, noticed Leonhard just about to leave and hurriedly approached him.

“Leon.”

“Duke.”

Leonhard lightly bowed to him, saying that he finally greeted him as the seat was reserved. At that greeting, Duke Daphnen shook his head, saying that this was not necessary.

“Haven’t you inherited the throne now? You don’t have to say hello to me.”

“Then it’s a greeting to my uncle, not the duke.”

“Uncle, hmmm.”

The three previous Marquis Ajas, Marquis Ajaa’s wife, and Duke Daphnen boasted a deep friendship, and to be precise, the Previous Marquis Ajas and Duke Daphnen were related by first cousins.

If it was a second cousin, they weren’t really that close, but Duke Daphnen often visited the north.  Even before The previous marquis Ajas was married, and even after he got married and had a child.

Duke Daphnen was kind to young Leonhard, who was wary of strangers, and even after the death of Marquis Ajas and his wife, he ran to the north and helped with the funeral.

To comfort Leonhard, who had lost his entire family suddenly, Duke Daphnen suggested Leonhard call him uncle. It wasn’t because it had a different meaning. It was just a pity for a child who grew up without knowing how to lean on someone.

Leonhard hadn’t seen Duke Daphnen since the funeral, but the fact that he still remembered it made a corner of Duke Daphnen’s heart tickle.

“Rather than that, Leon, I heard you entered the palace separately yesterday. What happened to you and your majesty that offended you again?”

“It was nothing. Knowing the reason I came to the capital, he insisted on being a matchmaker, so I just politely refused.”

“A matchmaker? Don’t tell me…”

A young lady of marriageable age to the extent that the emperor claims to be a matchmaker. There was only one person Duke Daphnen would guess.

“Did he mean to introduce the princess to you? But you refuse it?”

“Because I have Noah.”

If the marriage with the royal daughter is made, the emperor will not allow Noah to exist, apart from Leonhard’s will.

“Huh…You still haven’t broken that stubbornness? Do you really have to make that child your successor?”

“I already have my successor.”

The voice that said that was so strong, like the symbol of Ajas. Duke Daphnen knew Leonhard very well, he never broke it once he made up his mind. So instead of bringing up words of persuasion, Duke Daphnen only sighed.

“If it’s not urgent, I’ll see you later at the duke’s residence. I’m busy right now.”

“what? what a busy…Leon!”

However, Leonhard left only a light nod and hurriedly left Duke Daphnen’s side.

At first, he wanted to scold Leonhard but Duke Daphnen narrowed his eyes when he saw Leonhard, who was busy walking, calling someone.

“Who was the person?”

Soon, he could remember someone’s name by looking at the green eyes that tinged with kindness.

“Count Howard?”

* * *

“Lady! I’m here!”

“Are you back? How is the atmosphere on the street?”

After visiting the downtown area of the capital, Helen’s shoulders trembled as if she still couldn’t forget the hideous atmosphere.

“It’s messy. Everywhere I go, everyone talks about it.”

Perhaps because she was quick to respond, she Saw more people were interested in the situation than those who were scared of monster attacks, Helen said, releasing the cake she bought on the table and starting to make tea.

“I don’t know if the New Year’s Festival will be held with this atmosphere. That’s why I came up to the capital.”

“Maybe that’s why it will be opened more grandly?”

“Ugh, do you know when the monsters will attack again? I just wish New Year’s Day was canceled.”

“Why? Do you want to go back to your territory?”

“Yes.”

Seeing that she nodded quickly, it seemed that she was really learning. To appease Helen, I pricked a strawberry on my cake with a fork and put it in her mouth. I didn’t even pretend to win over Helen anymore, and Helen ate it quickly.

“If you go back to the territory, you will want to come back to the capital, right?”

“Yes, the capital is good for a day or two. I also like where I was born and raised.”

“Well, I think so too.”

If I remember correctly, the monster attack in the capital will happen once more. At the 2nd Prince’s Palace. There is a purpose.

It’s the best the 2nd Prince can handle… If not, put the cause of the monster incident on the 2nd prince.